They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be priceless – and there are times when a video is more convenient and effective than simple words. Ever find yourself in that kind of position? Maybe you want to guide someone through fixing a problem or you want to share your experience with another. You could do that with screenshots, but go a step further and start using screencasting tools for Windows instead.

A screencast, also known as a video screen capture, is a recording of your computer screen outputted in video format. In other words, a screencast is to a screenshot as a video is to a photo. It can include the audio sounds from your computer, or a voiceover using a microphone, or both. When a screencast is broadcasted live over the InternetHow to Live Stream Your Gaming SessionsHow to Live Stream Your Gaming SessionsAs we enter our month of gaming giveaways, it seems only appropriate that we look at the delicate art of live streaming PC and console games. Although it's difficult to understand why anyone would want...Read More, it’s called a stream – that’s beyond the scope of this article.

It might seem like a difficult task, but screencasting is surprisingly easy thanks to the software available. I’ve done my share of screencasting in the past and here are my best recommendations when you don’t want to spend a cent.

Open Broadcaster Software, commonly known as OBS, is the absolute best screencasting and streaming tool when it comes to free. There’s just no contest here. As the name would imply, OBS is first and foremost a video streaming tool so others can view your screen in real-time. However, OBS has the option to do a “local stream,” which takes your “stream” and outputs it into a video file instead. Voila, screencasted.

Features that you’ll find useful in OBS:

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Add image and text overlays to your video output.

Multiple sources for picture-in-picture (such as putting your webcam in the corner while the rest of the output sources from your screen).

Multiple scene layouts so you can transition back and forth easily.

API system so you can take full control of your videos with self-made plugins.

32-bit and 64-bit versions available.

Open source for those of you who enjoy prodding around the workings of a program.

The sheer flexibility and feature-richness of OBS is both a blessing and a curse. For screencasting novices, the learning curve will be rather steep. OBS does provide a settings estimator which will approximate the right settings based on your computer specifications, so that will ease the process a bit. Once you’ve got it set up, OBS is a breeze to use.

Don’t confuse CamStudio with Camtasia Studio, which is a premium screencasting program that will set you back a few hundred dollars. CamStudio is entirely free and allows you to create robust screencasts without much trouble.

Screencast-O-Matic is a quick and easy solution for casting your screen if you don’t want to mess with loads of settings and setup. It’s web-based so as long as you have Java installed you can begin recording your screen with a single click. If you prefer a desktop version, Screencast-O-Matic has that too and it’s just as simple to use.

Features that you’ll find useful in Screencast-O-Matic:

Free video hosting for those made with Screencast-O-Matic (15-minute limit).

Capable of recording screen OR screen and webcam, but not webcam only (Pro).

Supports MP4, AVI, and FLV formats.

Can publish directly to YouTube.

It’s too bad that the free version is capped at 15-minute recording segments, has a small watermark, and doesn’t record system audio (only microphone). For $15, you can get a 1-year Pro subscription which enables the following features:

No recording time limit.

Removes the watermark when publishing.

Allows for webcam-only recording.

Zoom and draw while recording.

Can publish directly to Google Drive, Vimeo, and more.

Conclusion

Maybe I’m biased because I’ve been using OBS for nearly half a year already, but it is hands-down the best free screencasting tool I’ve ever used – even better than XSplitUse XSplit Broadcaster To Stream Yourself On The InternetUse XSplit Broadcaster To Stream Yourself On The InternetTechnology is always advancing. One big example of how our society is changing is the shift towards putting everything on the Internet. Diaries have been pushed out of the spotlight by blogs and social networks....Read More, which I reviewed last year. If OBS is too much for you, CamStudio is a wonderful alternative, and if you just need a quick screen clip, Screencast-O-Matic gets the job done.

So what do you think? Know of any other free screencasting tools for Windows that I may have overlooked? I’m always on the lookout for the best Windows software tools, so please share them in the comments!

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Kim

May 26, 2017 at 1:41 am

I use screencastomatic (paid version) but have frequent sound drop outs. I am running out of ideas. Is it a Windows 10 issue, or a screencastomatic issue? I have reinstalled drivers as per Microsoft support pages, and changed settings.

Before trying other software, I'd be keen to know if others have this issue.

As of January 2016, OBS still won't work with Windows 10 (It's a DirectX 12 issue, and you cannot install DirectX 11 in Windows 10.) Smae problem with most hardcore games. Too bad. Sounded like a great app.

Thanks for Open Broadcaster Software tips . It works great. It is not very user intuitive at first but once you set it up once you are good to go and you have a free quality screencaster. Saving $30 to $100 is always welcome : ) I am not sure about the editing features on it though. But i don't really need it so that's ok for me. If it works great for the next few weeks, i will make sure to give them a donation for their good work : )

I was excited to try OBS, but it would not run - could not initialize DirectX 10, my machine is only two years old - HP Touchsmart. Nice machine. This software should be a little more accommodating I would think to "older" machines?

From my experience, OBS is the most friendly streaming program in terms of required computer power. It sounds like it would be more of a driver issue than anything, but I can't be sure. You could try contacting the OBS dev?

I was excited to try OBS, but it would not run - could not initialize DirectX 10, my machine is only two years old - HP Touchsmart. Nice machine. This software should be a little more accommodating I would think to "older" machines?

Thanks for this :) Hadn't even heard of OBS, decided to get it on your suggestion here, nice article =) Well made etc, straight to the point and said what is needed to be said without faffing around, heh. (I like that you mentioned XSplit at the end there too, because I've used that before for gaming stream, but I want something to record drawing on my tablet at the same time as webcam - and digi cam at the same time but that's getting off topic - so that's great)

finally an article that mentions screencast-o-matic. I have been using it for a few years now and it gives really good recording quality and for compared to alternatives such as bandicam have a much less intrusive watermark.
Despite this I think I might give OBS a try